Gandhi Nivas marks four years’ service at Otahuhu home

Gandhi Nivas, the early intervention service that provides temporary accommodation to the perpetrators of family violence, celebrated its four-years celebration on Friday, November 30.

Gandhi Nivas initially catered to address the issue of family harm in the Indian community, but it now provides service to men of all ethnicities.

In the last four years, Gandhi Nivas has served more than 1400 families affected by family harm issues through its three homes expanding to Papakura and Te Atatu.

Present at the event were Deputy Commissioner John Tims, who unveiled the plaque marking four years celebrations at Otahuhu Home, along with MPs Kanwaljit Bakshi and Denise Lee from National Party, Priyanca Radhakrishnan from the Labour Party, Rakesh Naidoo, Sergeant Gurpreet Arora, Satvir Sen, Sucharita Verma from Sahaayta and other community leaders.

Gandhi Nivas Governance Board chairperson, Ranjna Patel acknowledged the support of Deputy Commissioner John Tims and being the driving the initiative since its inception.

“Gandhi Nivas provides free of cost 24 hours/7 days a week temporary accommodation for men who have been served with a Public Protection Order (PSO) and with a 24hr wrap-around service for the individual and his family,” Chairperson of Gandhi Nivas, Ranjna Patel said.

Gandhi Nivas’ first house was opened in Otahuhu in 2014, the second house in Te Atatu Became operational since March 2018 and officially opened by Minister for ACC Iain Lees-Galloway in August, and the third home in Papakura opened in September this year.

In 2018, Gandhi Nivas received 190 referrals in the first half of the year as opposed to a total of 414 clients in 2017 – an annual increase of 75.4 per cent.

Gandhi Nivas earlier in August this year received a funding of $1.7m from ACC for their service and expansion of Gandhi Nivas over the next three years.

Gandhi Nivas was established using a Lotteries Commission grant and receives on-going funding and support from Counties Manukau Police, ACC, Total Healthcare PHO, Massey University, the Ministry of Social Development, Catholic Services, and other private funders.

Gandhi Nivas is supported by the Serenity Foundation, New Zealand Police, Total Healthcare PHO and Sahaayta Counselling & Social Support, it has been phenomenally successful in timely intervention in cases of domestic violence.

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